Wiimote
From PrattWiki
We use Wii remotes ("Wiimotes") in a few of our classes. We attach the Wiimotes to PCs via Bluetooth. We use Wiimote.dll and software written in LabVIEW to communicate with the Wiimotes.
We're not trying to reinvent the wheel in this page, but we are trying to consolidate the local knowledge and folklore of the Wiimotes.
Contents |
Hardware
We're using standard Wii remotes. We do not (yet) use the Nunchuk. We do not (yet) use the Wii Motion Plus.
The computers have generic USB Bluetooth dongles we found at Tiger Direct. Pretty much as soon as we'd bought a few of them, Tiger Direct stopped carrying them. Pity, that, because not all Bluetooth dongles work with Wiimote.dll. As far as I know, there's no list of Bluetooth hardware known to work with our LabVIEW attachment. There is a list of Bluetooth adapters supposed to work with Wiimotes.
The Wiimote senses motion with a 3-axis MEMS accelerometer, the Analog Devices ADXL330 capable of measuring up to 3g.
Software
The software is well described by remote/x/0/ National Instruments. We made a few modifications to their software. But, if you know LabVIEW, you could make your own customizations in minutes.
Tricks
Connecting the Wiimote needs some special magic, at least around here.
Connecting for the first time, we log in as an administrator, then insert the Bluetooth dongle and let the computer install the drivers for it. Then we open the Bluetooth control panel and follow the instructions below. After this has been done once as administrator, we can subsequently do this in limited accounts.
We've found that we need to decouple and recouple the Wiimotes to the Bluetooth driver every time we use them. So, in the Bluetooth Devices control panel, we remove every Bluetooth device. Then we put the Wiimote into discover mode by pressing buttons 1 and 2. We tell the PC's Bluetooth software to discover devices.
Doing this one by one for each station in the room (we usually run 8 stations) we can get the whole room running. We have not had interference or performance issues with 8 simultaneous stations running. I don't know what the maximum possible number of Wiimotes in one area is.
If the Wiimote isn't connected properly, LabVIEW might complain that it can't find hid.dll. Or it might complain of something else.
Storage
We discovered the hard way that the Wiimotes drain the batteries, even when not in use. We store them with the batteries removed now.
We could use rechargeable battery packs, but we prefer the convenience of disposable alkaline batteries.
Other Resources
Spark Fun Electronics has a nice Wiimote teardown document.
Colorado State ECE has a nice Wiimote laboratory exercise.
